After an absence of seven years, Joburg Ballet’s production of Romeo and Juliet comes to the stage of the Joburg Theatre from Friday 30 June to Sunday 9 July.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s tragic story of a passionate feud between two families in Renaissance Italy, the ballet is set to a searing, powerful score by Sergei Prokofiev with choreography based on Nicolas Beriosoff’s 1969 production.
As Juliet, Shannon Glover returns to a role she has danced previously while audiences can look forward to debuts from Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Monike Cristina. Their Romeos will be Bruno Miranda, Armando Barros and Gabriel Fernandes, all of whom are dancing this role for the first time. Due to injury and unforeseen circumstances, the originally announced Juliet of Chloé Blair and Romeos of Revil Yon and Ruan Galdino will not be seen this season.
Apart from the title roles, Romeo and Juliet showcases several supporting roles which this season include Gabriel Fernandes, Armando Barros and guest artist Craig Pedro as Tybalt, and Ivan Domiciano, Tumelo Lekana and Luhle Mtati as Mercutio.
Important character roles will be performed by Christopher Montague (Lord Capulet), Anya Carstens (Lady Capulet), Natasha Ireland (Juliet’s Nurse) and Mario Gaglione and Lerato Letlape (Friar Laurence).
Vuyani Dance Theatre, Jozi Dance Company, National School of the Arts and the Joburg Ballet Academy will appear with Joburg Ballet in Romeo and Juliet, giving an added grandeur and dimension to a production which calls for a large cast of dancers.
Restaging the production is Angela Malan, a former ballerina and an admired coach and teacher. While with Joburg Ballet she is teaching company class, coaching the dancers for roles in Romeo and Juliet and overseeing the production of the ballet. South African-born Malan enjoyed a distinguished career as a dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, PACT Ballet, The State Theatre Ballet and South African Ballet Theatre. She is now based in Milan, Italy and pursues a busy schedule as guest teacher and coach in Europe and South Africa.
Dates, times, prices and casting for the roles of Juliet and Romeo
Friday 30 June 18:30 (Half Price Night): Shannon Glover and Bruno Miranda
Saturday 1 July at 14:00 (Standard Prices): Monike Cristina and Gabriel Fernandes
Sunday 2 July at 14:00 (Standard Prices): Shannon Glover and Bruno Miranda
Wednesday 5 July at 11:00 (Morning Matinee Prices): Monike Cristina and Gabriel Fernandes
Thursday 6 July at 11:00 (Morning Matinee Prices): Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Armando Barros
Saturday 8 July at 14:00 (Standard Prices): Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Armando Barros
Saturday 8 July at 18:30 (Standard Prices): Monike Cristina and Gabriel Fernandes
Sunday 9 July at 14:00 (Standard Prices): Shannon Glover and Bruno Miranda
Half Price Night: R263, R225, R205, R150, R110
Standard Prices: R525, R450, R410, R300, R220
Morning Matinee Price: R110
Other discounts: Friends of the Ballet 35%; Pensioners 15%; Groups of 10+ 10%; Children 4-7 50%
Where: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein (GPS -26.191316, 28.038519)
Book: At Joburg Theatre Box Office; or tel. 0861 670 670; or online at www.joburgtheatre.com. Patrons can also book and pay via the Nedbank app and at selected Pick n Pay stores.
Open Day
Joburg Ballet hosts an Open Day for Romeo and Juliet on Saturday 17 June from 10:00 to 13:00 at the Joburg Ballet Studios, Joburg Theatre. The Open Day will allow the public to watch rehearsals and engage with the creative process. Refreshments will be served. Tickets are R150 and may be booked through Futhi Zwane on 011 877 6898 or futhi@joburgeballet.com.
Looking Ahead
Following Romeo and Juliet, Joburg Ballet in association with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra presents Don Quixote, one of classical ballet’s most enchanting comedies, at the Joburg Theatre from 29 September to 8 October. Details and booking information to be announced.
Joburg Ballet is grateful to the Friends of the Ballet for a generous gift of R250 000 towards the production of Romeo and Juliet.
This article has been edited to reflect changes in casting and the restaging of the production by Angela Malan.
